The Who

I saw a legendary rock group last night-The Who. It was a great concert. It’s amazing how these guys who are in their 60’s and still “rockin’ and rolling”. What was even more amazing was the age of the audience. When I went to concerts it was just teenagers. Now parents are bringing their kids to concerts. I bet the ages ranged from 7 to 70.

The patrons still bought beer and popcorn; they just walked a little slower, especially down the steps. Everyone was cordial and pleasant. No bumping or pushing. It was fun to watch how everyone was excited and standing in the beginning but the old folks (40 and above) were happy to sit a little bit.

So why is The Who still touring? According to Pete Townsend (lead guitarist for those who are not rock enthusiasts), it is not because they need to prove anything, not to make it any better, not to promote anything but because they love the fans and they still can! And since they made so much money, when you buy their current CD they will donate money to their charities. Notice plural on the word charities.

Can you say that by the time you are in your 60’s that you will be doing something you love and have a passion for just because you can?

As the saying goes, “Time is of the essence”. Find your dream, your passion and create the steps (even small ones) to fulfill your life’s purpose.

I hope that when I am in my 80’s I will still be “rockin’ and rolling” (and I don’t mean in a rocking chair) with the best.

The Day After Thanksgiving

Phew. Only 1 pound the day after Thanksgiving. I am thankful that it was only one pound. This year I ate the Thanksgiving meal in small portions. I had more turkey than mashed potatoes and I had the pumpkin pie (no whipped cream and less sugar) over the apple pie.

It all comes down to portion control. Americans keeps growing their waistline month by month. Obesity is rising yearly. And yet we have a myriad of diet books and diet centers growing each year. Why are we getting fatter?

It comes down to the quality and quantity of food we consume. As we get closer to Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa and food (especially sweets) become abundant let’s be mindful and refrain from eating a ton of junk. You can have a little but don’t eat a lot.

This Thanksgiving I am most thankful and grateful for my health and my relationships. What are you most thankful for?

Our 5 Senses

If you think you are having a hard day just sit back and be happy that you have all of your senses. Remember your 5 senses include smelling, hearing, touching, tasting and seeing.

Just think how hard your day would be without one of these senses. If you had forfeit one sense, which one would you give up.

Some people can not hear, see or both. People who have been severely burned on their hands lose sensation.

What I am getting at is the fact there are many people with disabilities doing amazing things in life.

Ask yourself if people with disabilities and people who have one of their senses diminished or gone are leading great lives and I have all my senses and no disabilities shouldn't I be leading a great life?

We sometimes forget how good we really have it. Today I want you to recognize all that you have and focus on what you can do tomorrow with all your abilities to make a difference in someone's life (even your own).

Get Up & Move

It was great being a little kid. You had playtime, recess, playtime, snacks, playtime, naptime, playtime, and so on. Now you have work time, no recess, work time, and so on. The greatest part about being a kid is all the time you don’t spend sitting. The sitting starts when you enter first grade. Then you begin sitting the rest of your life. And then the problems begin.

Most folks when they sit do not sit properly. They lose their posture starting at their hips (pelvic region). This causes a rounded shoulder look or the humpback look. This is when your shoulders are rounded and your head is poking way forward. In this position you can begin to experience muscle pain throughout your neck, upper/mid back and lower back.

What should you do? Aside from stretching at your desk you should get up every 20 minutes. Stretch your neck, upper back and the backs of your legs and during lunch try to devote some time to walking and stretching.

In other words, get up & move. Your muscles and heart will be much happier.

Worrying Equals Zero Net Gain

Epictetus, a Greek philosopher once said, “There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which our beyond the power of our will.”

Imagine how much time we spend worrying and thinking about things that are out of our control to change. Many of my patients who are worriers suffer with headaches and neck pain. Worrying never changed an outcome of any problem. It did not make the problem worse or better. The only thing worrying does is create havoc on the person who worries. Worrying can cause headaches, upset stomach, neck pain, ulcers, etc. Worrying compromises our journey to happiness.

Worrying, like guilt is a wasted emotion.

To Eat or Not to Eat

It is very confusing. I have read many diet books. All the books agree on a few common points. We need to curb our calorie intake at each meal and throughout the day. That does not mean you go hungry. The books also agree the most organic and naturally grown food you can eat, the better for you. I don't ask my patients to become vegetarians but I do ask them that if they eat red meat, eat a good quality of red meat. The closer you can get to eating meat, poultry, and fish without the by-products of steroids, or antibiotics the better you are. There are many web sites, which offer these kinds of natural foods.

The other points the nutrition and weight loss books agree upon are:
˜ No partially hydrogenateted foods
˜ No high fructose corn syrup
˜ Decrease white sugar consumption
˜ Decrease white flour consumption
˜ Decrease starches
˜ Eat more green vegetables
˜ Drink water throughout the day
˜ Stay away from salt and fat laden foods

Start your nutrition lifestyle change now. Don't wait until after Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Summer vacation, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas... get my drift?